Radiology is one of medicine's most demanding disciplines — combining pattern recognition, clinical correlation, and precise written communication under time pressure. These 35 prompts help radiologists draft clearer reports, prepare for boards, educate trainees, and handle the administrative side of practice more efficiently.
Whether you're a resident building report-writing skills or an attending managing a high-volume read list, these copy-paste-ready prompts will integrate directly into your workflow.
1. Structured Report Drafting
I am a radiologist dictating a chest CT report. The patient is a 62-year-old male smoker with a 2 cm spiculated right upper lobe nodule, mediastinal lymphadenopathy (station 4R, short axis 1.4 cm), and no pleural effusion. Draft a structured radiology report with Technique, Findings, and Impression sections using ACR-style language.
Write a structured MRI brain report for a 45-year-old female presenting with new-onset headaches. Findings include a 1.8 cm homogeneously enhancing extra-axial mass along the left sphenoid wing with mild adjacent edema and no midline shift. Use formal radiological terminology.
Draft a liver MRI report (hepatobiliary protocol) for a 58-year-old male with cirrhosis. There is a 2.3 cm arterially enhancing segment 6 lesion with washout appearance and capsule on delayed phase. LI-RADS category it appropriately and include all relevant observations.
I need to document a normal abdominal ultrasound in a 34-year-old female with right upper quadrant pain. The liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, and visualized bowel are unremarkable. Write a concise, professional normal study report.
Write a radiology report for a knee MRI in a 28-year-old athlete with suspected ACL tear. Findings show complete disruption of the ACL fibers, bone bruising at the lateral femoral condyle and posterior tibial plateau, and an intact PCL and menisci. Format with Technique, Findings, and Impression.
2. Impression and Recommendation Language
I have the following CT chest findings: bilateral ground-glass opacities in a peripheral and lower-lobe distribution, mild consolidation in the right lower lobe, no pleural effusion. Generate three Impression options — one favoring viral/atypical pneumonia, one favoring organizing pneumonia, one favoring early fibrotic lung disease — with appropriate follow-up recommendations for each.
Help me write a clear, clinician-friendly Impression for a CT abdomen/pelvis that shows a 4.7 cm infrarenal aortic aneurysm, no rupture, mild atherosclerotic calcification, and incidental right renal cyst (Bosniak I). Include appropriate follow-up intervals per current guidelines.
The following brain MRI findings need an Impression with actionable follow-up: multiple T2/FLAIR hyperintense white matter lesions in a periventricular and juxtacortical distribution in a 32-year-old female, one lesion is contrast-enhancing, and there is a single cervical cord lesion. Draft an impression referencing McDonald criteria and recommending next steps.
Write an Impression section for a screening mammogram showing a new 8 mm asymmetry in the right upper outer quadrant not seen on prior study. Include ACR BI-RADS category and standard recommendation language.
I read a pediatric chest X-ray showing mild perihilar haziness, hyperinflation, and peribronchial cuffing in a 4-year-old with cough and wheeze. Write a concise Impression with a differential and recommendation, using language appropriate for a pediatric clinician audience.
3. Trainee and Board Exam Education
I am a radiology resident preparing for my core exam. Quiz me on the Fleischner Society guidelines for incidentally detected pulmonary nodules in low-risk and high-risk patients. Present as a clinical scenario followed by a question, then give the answer with explanation.
Explain the LI-RADS v2018 classification system for hepatocellular carcinoma on CT and MRI. Cover categories LR-1 through LR-5 and LR-M with the key imaging features that define each, suitable for a first-year radiology resident.
I need to teach a medical student the differences between the imaging appearances of community-acquired pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, and atypical (mycoplasma/viral) pneumonia on chest X-ray and CT. Write a structured educational summary with key distinguishing features.
Create a 5-question MCQ quiz on musculoskeletal radiology covering normal variants that mimic fractures. Include answer choices, the correct answer, and a teaching point for each question. Target level: radiology resident year 2.
Explain the imaging workup algorithm for a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism using the Wells score and D-dimer in the context of choosing between CT pulmonary angiography and V/Q scan. Include radiation considerations for pregnant patients.
4. Clinical Communication and Peer Consultation
Help me write a critical findings communication note. I identified an incidental 5.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm on a CT ordered for chest pain. The ordering physician has been notified by phone. Draft a documentation note for the medical record.
Write a brief, professional email to an oncology colleague explaining that a follow-up PET-CT shows new hypermetabolic mediastinal adenopathy compared to the prior study three months ago, with the largest node now measuring 2.1 cm and SUVmax of 8.4, suggesting disease progression.
I need to explain to a non-radiologist clinician why I am recommending MRI over CT for a 35-year-old female with suspected multiple sclerosis. Write a 3-4 sentence clinical justification suitable for placement in the report or a phone conversation.
Draft a radiology department communication to referring emergency medicine physicians explaining the updated protocol for CT head in minor traumatic brain injury, including PECARN and Canadian CT Head Rule criteria. Keep it concise and practical.
A patient's family member is asking about a radiological finding (a "spot on the lung" seen on CT). Help me write a plain-language explanation of a pulmonary nodule, what it means, why follow-up is needed, and how to convey this without causing undue alarm.
5. Quality, Safety, and Peer Review
I am conducting a radiology department quality improvement initiative focused on reducing report turnaround time for ED studies. Help me draft a root-cause analysis framework including possible contributing factors, data points to collect, and potential interventions.
Write a peer review feedback note (in a constructive, non-punitive format) for a case where a 1.5 cm liver lesion was not mentioned in the initial CT abdomen report and was identified retrospectively. Focus on educational value and system improvement.
Help me create a checklist for radiologists reading CT pulmonary angiography studies to reduce the rate of missed findings. Include technical adequacy criteria, primary findings, and important incidental findings to systematically assess.
Draft a policy statement for a radiology practice on the appropriate use of addendum reports — when to issue one, what language to use, and how to flag clinically significant changes from the original report.
I need to present a radiation dose reduction initiative to department leadership. Write an executive summary explaining why optimizing CT protocols matters, the ALARA principle, and three specific protocol changes we could implement to reduce patient dose without sacrificing diagnostic quality.
6. Research, Abstracts, and Academic Writing
I am writing a research abstract for a retrospective study comparing the sensitivity and specificity of CT colonography versus optical colonoscopy for polyps 6 mm and larger. Our results showed 89% sensitivity and 96% specificity for CTC. Draft a structured abstract with Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
Help me write the Introduction section of a radiology research paper on the use of AI-assisted detection for intracranial hemorrhage on non-contrast CT. Cover the clinical problem, current limitations, and the rationale for AI tools. Target journal: American Journal of Roentgenology. (~300 words)
I need a Discussion section for a study showing that radiomics features from pre-treatment MRI can predict pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Our AUC was 0.81. Discuss clinical implications, limitations including sample size and retrospective design, and future directions.
Generate 5 potential research questions in interventional radiology that could form the basis of a prospective study or quality improvement project, suitable for a fellow or junior attending building their research portfolio.
Write a grant application specific aims page for a study investigating whether low-dose CT lung cancer screening reduces mortality in a South Asian immigrant population with a lower average pack-year history than Western screening trial populations. (~400 words)
7. Administrative and Practice Management
Help me draft a response to a patient complaint letter. The patient states they were not informed of a follow-up recommendation in their radiology report and are upset about a delay in care. Write a professional, empathetic response that acknowledges the concern and explains the standard communication process without admitting liability.
Write a job posting for a fellowship-trained body radiologist joining a private radiology group. Include responsibilities, qualifications, compensation structure overview, and culture highlights. Tone should be professional but welcoming.
I need to make the case to hospital administration for purchasing an AI-powered radiograph triage tool that flags critical findings. Write a one-page business case covering the clinical problem, proposed solution, expected ROI, and implementation considerations.
Draft a structured agenda and learning objectives for a one-hour radiology department case conference on incidental findings management, targeting both radiologists and referring clinicians.
Help me write a continuing medical education (CME) activity description and learning objectives for a half-day radiology workshop on breast imaging updates, including new ACR screening guidelines, tomosynthesis protocols, and supplemental screening MRI indications.
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